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The Territory > Valdichiana & Val d'Orcia |
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Città Turistiche vicino Montepulciano
Sarteano |
Cortona |
Pienza |
La Foce |
Monticchiello |
Sant'Anna In Caprena |
San Quirico d'Orcia e Bagno Vignoni |
SARTEANO
 Sarteano, is in an
excellent position, due to its proximity to road and train connections (5 min. from the Autostrada toll gate, ten from
the train station). The town in the last years has had a continual and constant development due to the richness of its
rustic and harmonious landscape where there are traces of a prehistoric, Etruscan, Roman, and Medieval to Renaissance
civilizations. The area is still uncontaminated by industrial installations, and rich in curative waters (nearby is the
Spa of San Casciano Bagni ). There are numerous historic and folkloric events for all the summer to liven up the city;
the most spectacular is the 'Saracen Joust', a unique knight's tournament that has continued for centuries.
Besides an imposing medieval castle built on the acropolis and surrounded by a marvellous park of oaks, in Sarteano
there can be admired numerous churches, the 17th century Arrischianti Theatre and an archeological museum in which are
kept finds from the bronze age, to the Etruscan civilization up to the late Roman period.
Museo civico archeologico - Via Roma, 24 -Tel.+ 39 0578 269261
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CORTONA
 The city of Cortona is placed on Monte Egidio, halfway between the Val di Chiana and the Val Tiberina.
Due to its elevated position (600mt. above sea level) from every point of Cortona there can be enjoyed a stupendous view that encompasses all of the Val di Chiana. The heart of the city is constructed on the Piazza della Repubblica onto which fronts the Town Hall founded in the XIII cent. The crenellated tower of the Town Hall and its consequent medieval aspect are the fruits of a restoration in the 1800's. On its shoulder is found the majestic Pretorio Palace today the seat of the Municipal Library, Etruscan Museum, Archives and Academy. Not to be missed is the ex-Jesus Church that preserves inside important works by Beato Angelico, Lorenzetti, Signorelli. A little outside the walls are the two interesting sanctuaries to Mary: the Calcinaio Church and that of the New St. Maria.
Museo dell'Accademia Etrusca - Piazza Signorelli, 9 -Tel. +39 0575 630415 - +39 0575 637235
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PIENZA
 It was founded in 828 with the name Corsignano and after a period of submission to Siena, it became a feud of the Piccolomini family, whose representative Enea Silvio is tied to the history of Pienza. The humanist, became Pope in 1459 (Pius II), and decided to transform his hamlet of birth into a Renaissance residence, availing himself of the architect Rossellino a student of Alberti. The operation was finalized with the realization of a utopian image of the ideal city, making it a true and real museum city. The heart of the city is the Pio II Square into which faces the Assumption Cathedral, the Piccolomini Palace, the cannons' house, Borgia Palace, seat of the Diocesan Museum and the Priori Palace. From the valley of the town spreads the charming landscape of the Artistic Natural and Cultural Park of the Val d'Orica, with calanchi - erosion furrows, undulating fields and the famous craggy Crete: an unforgettable spectacle!
Less than a kilometre from the city is found the parish church of Saints Modesto and Vito of Corsignano, an ancient Romanesque Church with a cylindrical tower; inside is the baptismal font where Pope Pius II was baptized.
Pienza has conserved over the centuries its beauty; with its lanes (with the propitious names of : Via dell'Amore - Love Street, Vicolo del Bacio - Kiss Lane , Vicolo della Fortuna - Fortune Lane, etc) that open onto an unforgettable panorama over the Val d'Orcia and it is not astonishing that UNESCO has decided to declare it a world heritage site and the most famous film directors have chosen it as a cinematographic set. A gourmet could not do better than try the famous and delicious Pienza Pecorino.
Museo Diocesano - Corso Rossellino, 30 - Tel. + 39 0578-749905
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LA FOCE
 In the area of La Foce is situated the villa of the same name that was purchased at the beginning of the century by the Marchese Origo and his wife. The couple carried out in this land a vast amount of notable work: reclamation and cultivation of the land, building a kindergaden, a school and a doctor's surgery. The Villa La Foce is still today embellished by a beautiful Italian garden created at the beginning of the XX century by the landscape architect Cecil Pinsent, open for visits on Wednesday afternoons.
From the locality continue along the Cassia where you can admire small roads bordered by cypresses that climb up the hills (certainly the most photographed image in Tuscany!)
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MONTICCHIELLO
 A few km from Pienza, on a hill called in the area the terrace of the Valdorcia, is situated Monticchiello, a small medieval hamlet in the form of a castle that today still conserves its unaltered gothic charm. Monticchiello is noted not only for its beauty but also for its Teatro Povero di Monticchiello. It performances are created and interpreted by the people of the town who also compose the music and the scenery. From 'popular experiment' the theatrical experience of Monticchiello has become a significant example of how to do theatre in Italy. The spectacles are held in the summer months.
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SANT’ANNA IN CAPRENA
 An Olivetan Monastery founded in 1324 and successively reconstructed, is noted for its frescos by Sodoma. The painter, that marked the passage from the Renaissance to Mannerist style, represented in the dining hall are various episode of the life of Jesus and on the entrance wall, to the right, a beautiful Madonna and Child. And in this monastery was filmed various scenes of the English Patient.
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SAN QUIRICO D’ORCIA E BAGNO VIGNONI
 Rising around the parish Church of San Quirico Osenna around the XIII cent. San Quirico d'Orcia developed along the via Francigena - Pilgrim's Way (the highway of the Medieval times). The urban building of the city is a clear example of medieval architecture, unfortunately there are no traces of the two principal gates that opened onto the Francigena, however, still complete is the Cappuccini Gate (facing towards Pienza). The most important building of San Quirico is surely the Collegiate with its particularly exceptional decorations. In the central Square, dating from that time is the St. Francis' Church called the Madonna of Vitaleta due to the harmonious statue realized by Andrea della Robbia. On the opposite wall of the Square is the entrance to the Horti Leonini Gardens, one of the first and most important examples of an Italian Garden. Bagno Vignoni is situated along the via Cassia that leads to Rome, a renowned thermal centre of Tuscany. A beautiful thermal bath 49 metres long by 29 metres wide, is found in the centre of the medieval hamlet, noted since the Roman era for its sulphureous waters of the hot spring (52).
From these waters illustrious personage have benefited, such as St. Catherine of Siena, and Lorenzo the Magnificent and have been the background of many famous films (for example, Nostalghia by Andrej Tarkowskij).
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